Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUDHABI43
2010-01-27 13:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
Case Closed: No Appeal of Sheikh Issa Torture Trial Verdict
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAD #0043 0271313 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 271313Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0208 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000043
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV AE
SUBJECT: Case Closed: No Appeal of Sheikh Issa Torture Trial Verdict
REF: ABU DHABI 17; ABU DHABI 11
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000043
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV AE
SUBJECT: Case Closed: No Appeal of Sheikh Issa Torture Trial Verdict
REF: ABU DHABI 17; ABU DHABI 11
1. (SBU) Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's January 10 acquittal
will stand, as Abu Dhabi prosecutors declined to appeal the verdict
before a 15-day filing deadline expired January 26. Post reported
this expected outcome (ref A) in the case against Sheikh Issa, who
was filmed torturing an Afghan merchant. The court exonerated
Sheikh Issa and convicted two American citizen brothers, Bassam and
Ghassan Nabulsi, of drugging him and manipulating events as part of
a blackmail scheme (ref B).
2. (SBU) Although the criminal case is now officially closed,
there is no end in sight to the legal proceedings stemming from
this incident. Sheikh Issa and the Afghan victim have each filed
separate lawsuits in UAE courts against the Nabulsi brothers for
damaging their reputations. The Nabulsis have sued Sheikh Issa in
Texas over a business dispute, and their attorney Anthony Buzbee
has publicly threatened to release more video purportedly showing
Sheikh Issa torturing 25 other victims.
OLSON
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV AE
SUBJECT: Case Closed: No Appeal of Sheikh Issa Torture Trial Verdict
REF: ABU DHABI 17; ABU DHABI 11
1. (SBU) Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's January 10 acquittal
will stand, as Abu Dhabi prosecutors declined to appeal the verdict
before a 15-day filing deadline expired January 26. Post reported
this expected outcome (ref A) in the case against Sheikh Issa, who
was filmed torturing an Afghan merchant. The court exonerated
Sheikh Issa and convicted two American citizen brothers, Bassam and
Ghassan Nabulsi, of drugging him and manipulating events as part of
a blackmail scheme (ref B).
2. (SBU) Although the criminal case is now officially closed,
there is no end in sight to the legal proceedings stemming from
this incident. Sheikh Issa and the Afghan victim have each filed
separate lawsuits in UAE courts against the Nabulsi brothers for
damaging their reputations. The Nabulsis have sued Sheikh Issa in
Texas over a business dispute, and their attorney Anthony Buzbee
has publicly threatened to release more video purportedly showing
Sheikh Issa torturing 25 other victims.
OLSON